FIRST BRITISH HEART TRANSPLANT

Britain's first heart transplant was successfully carried out in May 1968 at the National Heart Hospital in Marylebone, London.

The operation, which lasted seven hours, was led by South African-born surgeon Donald Ross.

It was undertaken on an unnamed 45-year-old man, Frederick West, who died died 46 days after receiving the donor heart.

It was the tenth heart transplant to be undertaken in the world since Dr Christian Barnard carried out the first one in Cape Town, South Africa, the previous December.

Mr West had been given a series of drugs to encourage the acceptance of the new heart but this lowered his resistance to infection and ultimately led to his death.

Only six more transplants were carried out in the UK over the following decade.

In the 1980s, heart transplants became more common and Mr McCafferty became the 41st person to have one.

In 2014/15 there were 181 heart transplants at seven hospitals around the UK.

'He loved fishing and was a keen trout fisherman until his condition worsened.'

Mr McCafferty was a wood cutting machinist, the general secretary of the Defence Police Federation and later in life worked in IT.

He also took up swimming, ran half marathons and participated in the British and European Transplant Games.

Three years ago, in an emotional reunion he met surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub and the pair cut a heart-shaped cake together.

Speaking at the time, he said: ‘If it had not been for them, I would not be here. I’m indebted to them and always will be, and particularly to the professor and people like him, and to the whole medical team.

‘Every morning I wake up and think to myself, “I have survived another day”,’ he said.

Mr McCafferty chose never to contact the family of his donor – a young man from Essex who had died in a motorbike accident – fearing it would be too painful for them.

John Fisher, a close friend who has lived with a heart transplant for 15 years, said: 'John was a marvellous inspiration for everyone who has ever had a heart transplant.

'He lived a normal life and never let his condition slow him down.'

'He was always involved in charity work raising money for Harefield Hamsters, a transplant support charity.'

He leaves wife Ann, son Iain, 47, and grandson, Oliver, 20.

In an emotional reunion three years ago Mr McCafferty (right) met surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub (left) who performed the life-saving transplant